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How Mike Clavijo elevated lifestyle brand nyc.lav during a pandemic

There’s an empowering feeling when looking at the nyc.lav logo. A four-ringed hand reaching and holding an empty space. It gives off a “The World Is Yours” ambiance; a limitless feeling. It’s everything that a New York City brand should be, and more.

nyc.lav is a lifestyle brand established in 2016 by founder and CEO Michael Clavijo. The brand was created with the intent of distributing original cuts, sew garments, and unique art printed on curated blanks.

The garments are designed and constructed in-house and released in volumes. Prints made on pre-sewn blanks and other products are released in capsules and singles.

nyc.lav one of one hoodie
nyc.lav

All art is designed in-house, individually, or in collaboration with artists sharing a vision of creativity and an understanding of what it means to bring quality to people who are, or were once, kids that grew up on the bare minimum.

nyc.lav is bridging the gap between the youth and their aspirations. Its tagline represents it all: born in new york. opulent worldwide.

Turning nothings into somethings is creativity at its finest. In an unprecedented year, Mike went all-in with nyc.lav during the COVID-19 lockdowns to elevate the brand.

I had the opportunity to pick his mind on his creative process and journey building out NYC’s next iconic brand. Check out the interview below.


KH: What are 3 items that are holding you down through the pandemic (so far)?

MC: My phone, my Xbox, and my computer held it down. It’s been 50% me trying to create as much as I can, and 50% playing Xbox and watching TV. They kind of go hand in hand because I can’t really do one without doing the other at some point.


KH: Favorite quarantine bite(s)

MC: Wings.. I been eating wings at least once a week.


KH: What is nyc.lav? Who is it for?

MC: Initially, it was a name I had for a brand; an anagram between my last name and the city I’m from. I wanted a space to be creative and put out the ideas I had. But over time, I’ve seen the potential to make it something greater than what I had planned.

The audience is really anybody with an appreciation for New York culture (which extends beyond new york. We’re the melting pot and the cultural capital of the world). If I had to specify, it’s for anyone that wanted quality clothing growing up but couldn’t afford it.

I don’t know how many times in high school I wanted clothes or some fire designer collectible and I couldn’t because I didn’t have the money.

nyc.lav and laamb
nyc.lav

KH: The squad. The gang. The team. However, you want to call it.  Who are they and how have they supported you on your creative journey this past year?

MC: Originally I was going to have a few partners help me launch the label, but over time it became apparent that it made more sense to run it by myself. There’s no ill will towards them and they support me where they can; I’m hoping someday I can bring them on more officially.

Unofficially, my circle is really the main thing that’s kept both the brand and myself in line. As a creative, you definitely have your doubts and it helps to have your people be real and tell you what they think from an outside perspective. I don’t know how many times I actually had one of the dudes that was supposed to co-run the brand with me, even after he was out, call me to ask what the fuck I was doing. You need people like that in your corner to remind you to stay focused.


KH: Resourcefulness seemed to be a theme during 2020. How were you and your team resourceful with your creative process?

MC: I saw a Complex interview with somebody saying some of the most real shit I heard:

You gotta get all your shit ideas out before you find that gem.

I have more mental blocks and bad ideas than ideas I execute on and I think that’s normal. Your best concepts appear to you when you’re not looking, so when the time comes to generate new shit I try to do what I can to relax. I tend to be an anxious person so it can be difficult.


KH: How have your and your brand pivoted during the lockdowns? What have you learned and how will it be implemented? What lesson(s) have you learned from building nyc.lav during the pandemic?

MC: I watch a ridiculous amount of videos on entrepreneurship because while I’m in love with the art, you need business savvy so your brand doesn’t get f*****. I think that shit is so looked over but people don’t realize how important it is.

New York City probably has some of the most talented pool of people I’ve witnessed growing up, from music artists to painters and newcomers to known veterans in their craft. But because we don’t learn about that in school, people sign contracts and deals that end up really hurting them and in the long run, turn them away from the passion they found in the first place. On a personal level, I’ve been making sure I have the systems in place to scale so when the time comes and I’m seeing serious exposure, I’ll be ready.

nyc.lav tee
@nyc.lav. opulent worldwide

KH: 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year. What were some defining moments for you this past year?

MC: Finally moving out of my parents’ crib was it. I think having my own space and a place to think has been crucial in developing new ideas. On a business level, seeing this last drop do well and breaking-even by itself is fire to me. I was able to break-even my first release, too, but starting out you never really know how people respond.


KH: Is there an upcoming project you’re looking forward to completing?

MC: I have a stupid amount of new ideas in the pipeline, but they’re gonna take a bit. One in particular includes a line of collectibles that’s gonna go crazy so I don’t wanna get into too much detail.


KH: What’s one thing you need as a creative to survive in these skreets?

MC: I think it differs from person to person, you need that thing that initially inspired you to create in the first place. I watched a lot of anime growing up and I always looked at it as art in motion, something that had the ability to evoke a feeling.

So sometimes I’ll go back and watch old shows or films that really made me feel a way. You need people to look up to and inspire you. Most recently, it’s been Daniel Arsham and the Instagram account “Hidden NY.” They constantly put out content that appeals to me and I wish I had more of it.


KH: The world has pretty much been indoors all year. What plans do you have once the world opens up? What’re you looking forward to?

MC: I wanna go to a bar and pay for overpriced alcohol so bad. I used to think I was pretty introverted but after seven months, you wanna be around people.

For nyc.lav I wanna throw a huge sponsored party. I’ve always wanted to host something with a minimal or free entry where my friends and their friends could get lit without worrying about a tab.


KH: What do you think the Post-COVID world will look like for creatives?

MC: In most creatives, I think the ability to adapt is inherent… naturally you’re thinking of the next idea or what’d be cool to do. This whole pandemic I think has been a catalyst for that, and is going to force some pretty wild developments in the future.


KH: General thoughts, shoutouts, or anything else you want to put out there?

MC: My supportive-ass family deserves every shoutout, I don’t think my mom and pop even realize what it is I’m trying to do with this sometimes but, the love is unconditional. Same with my friends who’ve bought everything I’ve put out since day one without me saying a word. On my mother, I don’t ask any of them to buy anything and they do anyway, and really their loyalty goes without saying.

nyc.lav logo tee
nyc.lav

Lastly, if you see this reach out; I’m a pretty open person and I want lav to be a platform someday that lets creatives collaborate and marry ideas. I wanna bring energy to New York that makes people want to work together, not act cutthroat… also go follow @lav.panels on Instagram, I’m reposting shit I fuck with. Thanks for having me. New lav soon… nyclav.com

New York City is the ultimate playground for creating, building, and expanding one’s vision. There’s a reason for this adage: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. nyc.lav’s quality clothing stands firm as another example.

Mike Clavijo and nyc.lav have taken their creative chops and used them to make the world theirs. Starting in New York City and ending with opulence worldwide.

Armani White

Rapper Armani White reveals his creative process in a new interview

As I sit back a listen to the first verses of Armani White’s latest single, Danny Mac, a thought comes to me: Creativity is a force to be reckoned with.

It is the underlying element in making dreams a reality. There are a plethora of definitions for it, but my favorite is as simple as can be: Turning nothings into somethings. That seems to be the theme for 2020.

In a year filled with uncertainty and an unsatiated appetite for the word “unprecedented”, creativity was needed more than ever. The best place to start is with people that are creative for a living: Artists.


Armani White’s new visuals for Danny Mac

From the depths of their imaginations, artists give the world a fresh perspective…on…well…the world. It is a trait that is invaluable, especially in times of turmoil.

I recently had the pleasure of hosting a Q&A interview with Philadelphia’s own, Armani White. An artist whose musical and visual creations have radiated all-around positivity.

His recently released single, Danny Mac, is an ode to the resurgence that is much needed in the turbulent year of 2020.

We discussed how the music industry was flipped on its head and underwent a massive pivot during the past year. For our interview, Armani White and I dove deeper into how he overcame obstacles due to lockdowns and made the most of his time.

Peep our interview with Armani White below:

KH: What were three items that got you through the pandemic (so far)?

AW: Call of Duty on my PS4 is #1 on the list. A bunch of brand opportunities that popped up out of nowhere and saved my life haha. And most importantly, Social Media.

KH: Favorite quarantine snack,meal, drink, etc.?

AW: Jamaican Food. Like a big ass platter of Jerk Salmon w/ rice & peas and cabbage.

KH: The squad. The gang. The team. However, you want to call it.  Who are they and how have they supported you on your creative journey this past year?

“Legendbound. My brothers showed me the true definition of family.”

– Armani White

AW: This is the first year where we haven’t been on tour since 2017 so it’s been really fun being in each other’s lives in real-time and not just because we have rehearsal/sessions. However, they’ve been vocal coaching me also haha.

KH: Resourcefulness seemed to be a theme during 2020, how were you and your team resourceful with your creative process? Were there any pivots you needed to make when it came to your projects?

AW: Man… buying a mic was the best investment I could’ve ever made before COVID really kicked in. We were very DIY before the pandemic but we took it to an entirely new level. We haven’t been able to do our big choir sessions recently because of liability purposes.

“It’s been a good challenge for me making music that still gives the same big energy with not nearly as many components.”

– Armani White

KH: How has the music industry pivoted during the lockdowns? What have you learned and how will it be implemented?

AW: It changed because the content is more important than music because we’re all stuck in the house needing something new… hourly.

“We’ve been able to become more human and communicate a lot more DTC (Direct to consumer) and engage in real conversations. And those virtual concerts haha.”

– Armani White
KH: There were ups and downs for everyone throughout 2020. I peeped your situation with the house fire, the NBA Livestream concerts, and the Panera campaign. What were some defining moments for you this past year?

AW: Thank you! I gotta a lot of collabs with brands that were really cool, especially the IG Live concerts with the NBA. Got called on to the commercial for Panera Bread, as well as got my first sync with “The Chi Season 3” promo.

The fire sent me through a world of hell I can’t imagine, especially in the wake of everything going on socially in the world. But I started working with my original engineer again from when I was like 16. So we’ve just been running through records.

ND: You recently released a single. Who is Danny Mac and what was the influence for the Danny Mac track?

AW: Since we were kids, I’ve learned so much about myself thru Dan. “Danny Mac” features my brother and serves as a bow to his childhood nickname and lifestyle.

“The song doesn’t only focus on the bounce back, but the glory that comes with a resurgence.”

In a year, Dan went from an ex-convict trying to get his feet on the ground to wearing Dior sneakers like their gym shoes to go get lunch at Ruth’s Chris. When I wrote the record, me and Dan lived together and his room was directly under me.

All throughout the day, I’d hear him yelling lyrics from the loud music, which ultimately led to me writing the track. I wanted to make a song that was a flex in itself, something that exuded confidence, something that was “Danny Mac.”

KH: Is there an upcoming project you’re working on or releasing soon? How will it differ from past projects?

AW: Can’t speak too much on what the next project is as far as names go. However, it’s a lot less experimental, in a good way, and easier to listen to!

KH: What’s one thing you need as a creative to survive in these skreets?

AW: Skreets hahaha… People.

“I’m a super extrovert and I need to feed off of other energy to give myself new ideas and new stories to tell in the future. I’ve been surrounded by my friends this entire quarantine and it’s made it so much easier to go through.”

– Armani White

KH: The Post-Covid world is a mystery based on our history, what plans do you have once the world opens up? What’re you looking forward to?

AW: Get my ass back on the road haha. As much as I’m looking forward to being back on stage, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying this downtime we’ve been having! I’ve gotten a chance to breathe and recenter myself artistically.

KH: What do you think the Post-COVID world will look like for creatives? What opportunities can creatives of color capitalize on moving forward?

“Honestly, I’m putting my money on drive-in concerts.”

– Armani White

AW: I think once they get all the mechanics behind that figured out, it’s gonna be a really cool experience that will be similar to what shows used to be.

KH: Before we close our interview, Do you have any general thoughts, shoutouts, or anything else you want to put out there, Armani White?

AW: Rest in Peace Deebo

Danny Mac is a culmination of Armani White’s rollercoaster of a year. The crazy part is, this is only the beginning for the West Philadelphia artist. Going into 2021, Armani White and LegendBound are a force to be reckoned with.


Peep Armani White’s new track Danny Mac below:

How rising solar artist Shala is quietly redefining influence and art

Think about a time where complexity was simplified right before your eyes.

For me, I recalled a time in my middle school science class where we were learning about the flow of electricity. We were performing a class activity where we took wires, a battery, a switch, and a light bulb and arranged them in a way where we produced light.

The arrangement was quite simple. Connect one wire from the negative side of the battery to the switch, then connect that to the light bulb. Take another wire from the light bulb and connect it to the positive side of the battery and, “Voilà!”

With a flick of the switch: let there be light.

This experience profoundly took something that was way over my head and simplified it through an art activity. It was as if art had explained the design, engineering, and science of electricity.

Science, Engineering, Design, and Art are fundamental elements for the progression of society. Each influences the other and we see it all the time. Star Wars shaping the space industry, Black Mirror expanding our ideas of social technologies, and Smart House laying the foundation for living with Artificial Intelligence.

These thoughts sparked a series of questions for me: Can we make sustainability and renewable energy cool? How can we use the influence of art to create more cultural acceptance and understanding around sustainability? I investigated thoroughly and may have found an answer.


Enter Shala.

Shala's Bronzeville Solar Pyramid
Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid (Photo Courtesy of Kenautis Smith @sw.film73)

By way of Chicago, Olusola “Shala.” Akintunde is a Nigerian-American contemporary artist and pioneer in the medium of Solar Art. This newfound discipline seamlessly merges art and solar technology that can be seen in one of his prominent pieces: Shala’s The Bronzeville Solar Pyramid.

The art piece is a translucent pyramid with a solar-powered lighting system that shines through a system of hieroglyphics Shala created with kids from various schools in Chicago. The public installation is located in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago’s South Side.

Photo Courtesy of The Movement Worldwide
Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid (Photo Courtesy of The Movement Worldwide)

Shala intentionally chose to build the pyramid with students of color, and in the Bronzeville neighborhood, because he wanted to be an example of what it is to create economic development within his own community. In his own words,

I took on solar (panels) because painting murals out in the cold (I live in Chicago) no longer seemed like it was worth my time. Painting a pretty picture for people to post or double-tap was no longer fulfilling. If I can do that on a solar panel, supply energy to the host building, and earn the added promotion that comes with a good piece, then that’s what I’m supposed to be doing as a creative. I’m a social impact artist.

– Shala

The symbolism of a pyramid is not lost on Shala. Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid is a gaze-locking art piece that provides cultural prominence to the neighborhood and awareness of renewable energy technologies. Furthermore, it provides equity in the community that will last for years to come.


Social Impact Artist

Photo Courtesy of The Movement Worldwide
Make America Great by Shala (Photo Courtesy of The Movement Worldwide)

An investment in solar panels comes at a premium price. However, the panels start to pay for themselves from day one and eventually start generating revenue after a few years. Shala has taken this concept and applied it to his art. He explains further,

I make sculptures and paintings that pay for themselves. Not only through value over time, but actually through real money because it’s generating electricity. Eventually, my decorated power generators become a source of income for those neighborhoods. Oftentimes I give the neighborhood equity in the piece so that when it does clear and make money, the neighborhood can actually generate money they can then use to improve their community.

Shala’s Solar Art provides value on several fronts. Not only does the art make the place better, it increases the value of a property. Furthermore, his art is adding cultural relevance to renewable energy and creating a natural income source in and for underserved communities. He dives deeper, saying

My job, as a creator, is to use my work to promote solutions to social problems and translate those solutions into something people can get. Create art that inspires people to adopt progressive ideas long enough for those ideas to become cultural norms.

All this is happening while his Solar Art is generating electricity for the neighborhood and selling the excess back to the power provider. Talk about having an impact on your community.


Solar Art

Solar Artist Shala
Shala (Photo Courtesy of Kenautis Smith @sw.film73)

To be the first in any field, one must be willing to accept great risk for a great reward. Shala has accepted these terms as his Solar Art pieces are one of the firsts of its kind.

His creativity draws from his discomfort of staying in a lane. He doesn’t sit comfortably in art, engineering, or academics particularly well. He’s a hybrid of it all. He described creativity in his own words,

As a creative. Your job is to create. It’s not to put yourself in a box and As a creative. Your job is to create. It’s not to put yourself in a box and stay within those limiting barriers in order to prove that because you are able to create something within those limitations you should be considered a genius. No. You’re still limited. Creativity has no limits. The discipline is not about putting limits on yourself and then working within those limits and saying, ‘You’re the best because you got the most out of those limits.’ Who cares?! That’s not what it’s about. It’s about being limitless. It’s about knocking the walls down.

Shala's Bronzeville Solar Pyramid
Shala’s Bronzeville Solar Pyramid (Photo Courtesy of Cinque Latif @march1stimagery)

It is this mentality that is paving the way for Solar Art. His persistence is what is driving this medium forward. He emphatically explained to me what Solar Art means to him

It’s going to be a whole discipline. Solar Art is going to explode. I know it. And I will be one of the forefathers of the art form. The explosion of Solar Art will lead to a reinvention of the technology. The technology is going to get adopted so quickly.

Excellence happens through experimentation and sheer persistence. Taking nothings into somethings is the name of Shala’s game and he has the experience to back his claims.


Words from the Wise

Shala at TED x Chicago (Photo Courtesy of The Movement Worldwide)

We live in a world where copycats seem to be receiving more attention than the actual originators. Mediocrity is celebrated and the number of people that can see through the corniness seems to be shrinking.

There seems to be a growing movement of kids aspiring to do more than “bounce a basketball, be fly, rap, start a clothing line, or be a model.” Shala reverberates these thoughts with his own mission statement,

I want to make a difference, man. Otherwise, why am I taking in air? I’m not here to just take in air, sell shit, have some kids, and drop dead. I have to do something!

Solar Art is his way of making a difference. Shala is building a model where the next generation of creatives can be inspired by his work and create change. He simplifies this thought saying,

You want to be rich? Make people rich. You want power? Empower. You want to be different? Make a difference. I’m not the greatest artist in the world. My cheatcode is I just make my ideas happen. Don’t tell anybody.

Change does not come immediately. It is cultivated through time, determination, and foresight. Shala has been working Solar Art for a while and left me with this gem that helped him get to where he is today:

Make persistence a habit. It’ll drive you where you don’t want to try. It’s like autopilot. My persistence is just a habit. I don’t always want to do it. The force of habit pushes me through hard times. Even when I think I suck, which happens a lot, it’s now just a habit for me to keep going, regardless.

Show up every day and show out. That’s how change happens. Whether if it’s within yourself or amongst the masses, constant pressure over time leads to a breakthrough.

Solar Art and Shala
Shala ponders in front of his Solar Art (Photo Courtesy of Kenautis Smith @sw.film73)

And when that breakthrough happens, it will feel like a spark of electricity jolting through a light bulb.

A conversation with Dr. Mark Rodgers on representation in STEM education

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are the backbone for progressing civilization. Innovations from STEM fields were brought about through diligence, patience, intelligence, and creativity from some of the world’s greatest minds.

From Archimedes to Galileo to Newton to Tesla to Einstein to Hawking to Jobs and Musk, these are a few of many that have transformed civilization as we know it. They are celebrated for their contributions, and rightfully so.

When looking at the giants of STEM, we can see that they are well-to-do white males; the antithesis of diversity.

But what about those who have also achieved feats of similar stature? Those who haven’t been highlighted or celebrated? Those that weren’t as talented but put in countless years of training to achieve innovation? Those that saw the universe a bit differently.

I’m talking about the George Washinton Carver’s, the S.N. Bose’s, the Katherine Johnson’s, and the Rosalind Franklin’s of the world.

I submit to you that diversification in STEM fields is an everpresent concern. I am not only talking about diversity as a singular person but as a group. The definition of diversity in itself is:

the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : VARIETY
especially : the inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization

STEM innovation is not singular. It is usually a team working together to draw conclusions. Yes, the team is usually centered around a talented individual, but it is not just talent that creates innovation. It is looking at a problem through multiple perspectives or multiple lenses if you will. Groups of diverse problem solvers can outperform groups of high-ability problem solvers

I recently interviewed Dr. Mark Rodgers, the Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at Rutgers Business School. We discussed a range of topics covering Energy Systems, Demand Planning, Statistical Modeling, and Continuous Improvement of today’s energy infrastructure.

Dr. Rodgers giving a presentation on grid expansion

Given the climate forecast for this year of wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes, I was curious to know more about how grid infrastructure and planning can help mitigate the damage done by such natural disasters. We also discussed the balance of additional loads put on the grid via people working from home and how it is offset from decreased office building loads and reduced transportation.

When it comes to grid infrastructure and planning involving the scenarios above. Dr. Rodgers cleverly and simply labeled a three-phase method: reliability, resiliency, and recovery

Reliability for designing a system that can withstand the strength of natural disasters and still provide on-demand power. Resiliency in terms of how fast a rapid response plan can be implemented to mitigate the damage. And recovery for implementing resources to remediate the damage and for service to return to normal.

It was quite an informative discussion.

As we went further into the interview, we discussed his background. How did he choose a career in STEM and what his process was like?

Dr. Mark Rodgers is an African-American professor at Rutgers University. He has a B.S. in Ceramics and Materials Science Engineering, an M.Eng in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, an M.S. in Statistics and Industrial Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering.

He is highly qualified in his field.

However, his experiences as an African-American navigating his way up in a STEM field have been quite precarious.

I asked him about his experience of being a person of color (POC) in his field was like. He went in-depth saying,

“Right now, I’m one of the few African-American faculty members at the Rutgers Business School there aren’t many of us, unfortunately, and I’m the only one that does kind of analytical research kind of more quantitative the more stem oriented type of work.”

He further explains,

“It’s disheartening. You have this isolated feeling.”

Dr. Rodgers reflected back on his graduate student experience where this isolated feeling fully manifested itself. He describes it as,

“I was the only American student pursuing a Ph.D. in the School of Engineering, And that was very very weird. It’s weird. It’s already isolating being the only black person in an American engineering class but being the only American is like, ‘Whoa, this is a big challenge.’, and that was something I had to adjust to.”

He dove in deeper with greater detail,

“Not only do I have to kind of find ways to not be non-threatening in front of my professors and got to think through those kinds of microaggressions, but I have to talk to my peers and my classmates about okay ‘how do I spell scissors?’ for things like that.  I’m also American, too, but I stick out like a sore thumb in the rest of society, and there are some certain microaggressions that I have to balance and deal with day to day.”

Dr. Rodgers is one of the few POCs teaching at Rutgers Business School

Being the first or only person from a specific background in any major industry is difficult. There is no point of reference to draw advice or inspiration from. For Dr. Rodgers, this holds true. Fortunately, his uncle was a chemical engineer at Kodak who inspired him to go up the path of an engineering career.

He summarized his perspective on POCs in STEM as such,

“It’s critical to look in the profession and see someone that looks like you. See that person as an example and say, ‘Okay, someone looks like me has done this before.’ And I think this is also a relatability aspect of it I wish I had more mentors that were people of color because I could actually see and talk to them about the things that I was doing with those other professionals.”

While representation might help one envision a career in STEM, persistence is also needed. Dr. Rodgers left me with one last wisdom.

“Fail early and fail fast.”

Every failure is a teaching moment. So take a deep breath, reflect on the experience, and ideate a new strategy for the next attempt.

If there’s anything our generation is good at, it’s being able to fall flat on our faces and rise back up. And that is something talent alone can never do.

Singularity is here! Elon Musk unveils Neuralink 2.0 and it’s wild

Another day, another step forward into the future.

Yes, Elon Musk is at it again. And this time, he’s looking to achieve “symbiosis with artificial intelligence.” Neuralink is the futurist’s latest company looking to make waves, and this time it’ll be by diving into the neurotechnology industry.

For a quick recap, Neuralink is developing ultra-high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces (BMI) to connect humans and computers. They are doing this by removing a piece of skull and inserting wires thinner than a human hair and covering it with an accompanying device.

In the most recent demo, Neuralink unveiled the latest hardware model,  Link V0.9. The size of the device no larger than a coin, as seen below.

Neuralink Link V0.9 Size (Source: Neuralink)

In an exploded view, one can see the intricate design of the chip and sensors along with the micro-sized electrodes.

The goal for the design of the Link is to be flush with the skull (essentially replacing the chunk of skull removed) and unnoticeable aside from a small scar which can be covered up by the hair.

Neuralink Link V0.9 Exploded View (Source: Neuralink)

The Link will be just like any other daily device that runs on a battery; similar to a smartphone. After a day worth of use, one can simply charge the device inductively, as seen below:

Neuralink Link V0.9 Charging (Source: Neuralink)

As mentioned before, the Link will be installed via a surgical process where a chunk of the skull will be removed and replaced by the Link device.

The surgical process is done entirely by a robot that will pinpoint which neurons to target and automatically place the less-than-hair-thin electrodes. The images below simply shows what the installation and surgical process entails:

Neuralink Link V0.9 Installation Process (Source: Neuralink)

Neuralink Link V0.9 Surgical Procedure (Source: Neuralink)

The main focus of this demo was to recruit talent to work with the Neuralink team.

They are looking to rapidly expand and are looking for roles in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, animal care, surgeons, and product development just to name a few openings.

The most important goals for Neuralink are to solve important brain and spine problems such as:

Memory Loss

Brain Damage

Hearing Loss

Blindness

Paralysis

Depression

Insomnia

Extreme Pain

Seizures

Anxiety

Addiction

Strokes

During the live presentation, the Neuralink team demonstrated the product using three different pigs; also known as the “Three Little Pigs.”

One pig was the control where it did not have the Link implanted. The second pig, named Gertrude, had the Link implanted. The third pig, named Dorothy had the Link removed to show that the implementation of the Link can also be reversible should a patient decide to remove it.

The spotlight, was Gertrude for the demo as she was shy to come out, but eventually did. The Neuralink team showed a visual of how the Link was reading spikes (or action potential) in the brain.

This is significant because it showed that the device actually works in real-time on a living specimen. The next step is to start human trials which will start soon as Neuralink has secured a Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA.

Neuralink Link V0.9 Snapshot Specs (Source: Neuralink)

The Link can not only read spikes but can write them as well. This means that the Link can write brain activity through firing electrodes in the brain and influencing a number of neurons. Controlling the electric field is the name of the game.

After the presentation of the new Link V0.9, The Neuralink Team took to Twitter to answer some thought-provoking questions. Some of the highlighted answers include:

Summoning a Tesla telepathically

Parapalegic people will eventually be able to play games, such as StarCraft, via the Link

Accessing lost memories, saving them, and reliving them.

The Link has a high-security protocol to prevent any intrusions.

The Link’s hardware and software are upgradeable

Now while all of these answers point towards the far future, the most immediate progressions include fully automating the robotic surgery process and evolving the electrodes to be thinner, longer, and more durable as it will exist in a corrosive environment, the brain.

This device definitely brings the onset of shows such as Black Mirror and Altered Carbon closer to reality. But civilization is still a long way away from that moment.

Until then, it’s best to enjoy being an imperfect being in an imperfect world.

Earth is COOKED: What can cities do to fight against hurricane season?

Torrential rains, high-wind speeds, and flooded infrastructure. This can only mean one thing… it’s that time of year again. Hurricane Season.

From June 1 to November 30, tropical storms form in the Atlantic Ocean and make their way towards the Americas and Caribbean. Nature’s might is on full display as these storms arrive unimpeded and leave nothing but destruction behind.

Hurricane Isaias was the first major storm of this season and has already caused widespread damage totaling up to $4 billion in the US alone. It has also delivered Caribbean nations around $200 million in damages. It is a sobering reality that there’s only so much that can be done when facing Mother Nature’s wrath.

The Eastern United States and the Caribbean can attribute the origins of these storms to one location: Cabo Verde.

Cabo Verde is a chain-island country off the coast of Western Africa. Although it has no effect on the formation of storms, the Cabo Verde area is the starting point for most Atlantic storms.

Tropical Waves are formed from the interaction of Hot and Cool/Humid regions in western Africa. (Source: Weather.com)

Origin and Movement of Atlantic Hurricanes (Source: Weather.com)

The combination of moist cool air and the warm water of the Atlantic ocean is a recipe for generating some of the fiercest storms that have occurred in the Western hemisphere.

Hurricane Matthew (Category 5, 2016) and Florence (Category 4, 2018) are a few of the storms that have brought devastation.

Atlantic Tropical Storms, 2012-2019 (Source: NOAA)

In this world, nothing can be for certain except for death, taxes, and tropical storms lashing out on the Eastern States and the Caribbean.

One of the main concerns of hurricanes is the amount of damage that comes with settlements that are on the coastal front. Water rises above the maintainable threshold and levels certain parts of settlements with high-rise floods.

The most recent occurrence of this was the Houston floods of 2019 which were caused by one of the wettest storms on record in that region, Tropical Storm Imelda.

Mother Nature’s wrath is merciless. There is no stopping a hurricane; not even nuking a storm would work.

The best that can happen is to slow it down and prepare for the consequences. Within a decade, the planet will see a major coastal city wiped off the map if environmental, economic, and energy policies stay the way they are. They are simply not sustainable.

Designing and building for a wetter future is a concrete solution. Protection against stronger hurricanes, global warming, and its byproduct of rising sea levels is absolutely necessary. The benefits of being proactive firmly outweigh the consequences of being unprepared. Coastal resiliency is the most efficient method for doing so.

What is coastal resiliency?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

“Coastal resilience means building the ability of a community to “bounce back” after hazardous events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, and flooding – rather than simply reacting to impacts.”

Why is coastal resiliency needed?

Over the past three decades, sea levels have risen year over year at an alarming rate. Higher sea levels translate into deadlier storm surges pushing farther inland than they once did, which also means more frequent flooding.

Access to water is the most vital resource for humans. It is no wonder that approximately 40% of the US population lives on the coast. With over 130 million Americans at risk of coastal flooding, cities must prepare for such a disaster through design and engineering.

Here are some examples of how coastal cities are designing for the future:

Boston

Bostonians have experienced their fair share of extreme weather over the past few years. Having seen piping hot summers and flooding during winter storms and King Tides, Boston is feeling the effects of climate change. The city has taken notice and is now putting into action a plan to prepare them for future lashings from mother nature.

Climate Ready Boston is an initiative by the city to plan for the impacts of climate change and build a resilient future.

Boston Harbor Vision (Source: boston.gov)

From their vision, it can be seen that many infrastructure projects are being planned and built out along Boston’s waterfront.

Infrastructure includes Protective waterfront parks comprised of waterfront gateways, living edges, and neighborhood beaches. Open space strategies include elevated harborwalks and other adapted infrastructure.

NYC

When Hurricane Sandy pulled up to NYC’s shorelines in 2012, it was the sauciest bhai at the party. Sandy resulted in deaths, billions in damages, lost economic activity and damaged tens of thousands of residential units which temporarily displaced thousands of New Yorkers.

Sandy was a catalyst for reshaping NYC’s future infrastructure. The future had to be more sustainable and resilient. Enter OneNYC, a strategic initiative by the Bill de Blasio administration with bold actions to confront the climate crisis, achieve equity, and strengthen democracy; to build and strong and fair city for now and the future.

NYC Zoning for Coastal Flood Resiliency (Source: nyc.gov)

There are four main goals that NYC will pursue. The first is creating safer city neighborhoods by strengthening community, social, and economic resiliency. Secondly, city buildings will be upgraded against climate-changing impacts.

Third, infrastructure systems across the region will adapt to maintain continued services. And fourth, but not least, New York City’s coastal defenses will be strengthened against flooding and sea-level rise.

New Jersey

Hurricane Sandy not only forced NYC into action but the surrounding localities as well. New Jersey was hit just as bad as NYC and this spurred action among the state’s housing and urban development officials.

In 2013, the United Staes Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $230 million to the State of New Jersey for their coastal resiliency project in Hoboken, Weehawken, and Jersey City.

The project, Rebuild by Design, takes a comprehensive approach to resiliency and is comprised of four elements: resist, delay, store, and discharge.

Rebuild by Design – NJ Resiliency Strategy (Source: nj.gov)

The four elements from this project can be broken down into the following:

Resist: A combination of hard infrastructure and soft landscaping features that act as barriers along the coast during exceptionally high tide or storm surge events.

Delay: Incorporate policy recommendations, guidelines, and urban green infrastructure to slow stormwater runoff.

Store: Implement green and grey infrastructure improvements, such as bioretention basins, swales, and green roofs, that slowdown and capture stormwater.

Discharge: Create enhancements to Hoboken’s existing stormwater management system, including the identification and upgrading of existing stormwater/sewer lines, outfalls, and pumping stations.

With 2020 being an election year, it is more important than ever to vote for representatives that not only are for the promotion of social equality and equity but for sustainability and resiliency as well.

There is an old, ironic  saying,

“May you live in interesting times.”

2020 has been just that.

Life is better in uninteresting times of peace and prosperity.

Vote here!

How Silicon Harlem is leveling the playing field in education

 

Learning is one of life’s neverending pursuits. Whether we realize it or not, there is something learned every day. Learning has several mediums, two of which we are aware of: education and curiosity.

Our education is a process of facilitating learning through an organized process. It is fostered by a standardized schooling system where we interact with other learners and have lessons taught by a teacher. What we learn in school comes from a curriculum that is designed by teachers to meet certain targets. These targets are conceptualized in an exam that all learners must pass in order to move on to the next level of learning.

Our curiosity is developed through our urges to discover and investigate the universe. It is a natural feeling to explore where there is an attraction. Curiosity is how we learn without even realizing we are learning. It is the great feeder for education.

Balancing education and curiosity is no essay feat. But one venture seems to have cracked the code.

Silicon Harlem is a for-profit social venture that is committed to transforming Harlem into a technology and innovations hub. Founded by Clayton Banks and Bruce Lincoln in 2013, Silicon Harlem has set out on a mission to provide digital literacy and equity for all, starting in their own backyard.

Clayton Banks further explained to me why this is the mission,

You do need everyone, no matter what their educational levels are, no matter what job they have, no matter what entrepreneurialism efforts you’re putting out there. Everyone needs a level of data and digital literacy in order to be functioning in our economy.

Clayton is connecting education with the economy as a way to provide equity to everyone. His organization is attempting to bring to light and solve one of the larger, looming issues in today’s society: the widening gap in quality education based on socioeconomic status.

The best case study for this issue is looking at the NYC school system.

New York City is home to the largest school district in the US. It is also one of the most racially diverse places in the world. The graphic below shows the ethnic distribution of NYC.


By FORD FESSENDEN and SAM ROBERTS

 

Compiled in 2011 by the New York Times, this graphic is truly a mosaic of all cultures in the New York City (It’s based on the 2010 Census…with that being said be a great member of society and fill out the 2020 Census), The city is not only a melting pot of cultures but of various incomes as well. The graphic below (from Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York) shows the 2018 median income of families with children in each community district.

 

by CCC New York

 

When comparing the ethnic composition graphic and the median income graphic, we can see that the areas that have a low median income are upper Manhattan, the majority of the Bronx, and the middle of Brooklyn and Queens. These areas are predominantly Black, Hispanic, Caribbean, and Central/South American.

Now, how do ethnically concentrated areas with low income relate to NYC’s education system?

The answer is the lowest proficiency rates in Math and English Language Art subjects.

The charts below, provided by the NYC Department of Education, show that Black and Hispanic 3rd to 8th-grade students have an overwhelmingly low proficiency rate compared to their White and Asian peers.

2019 New York State Test Results: New York City Grades 3-8 by NYCDOE

2019 New York State Test Results: New York City Grades 3-8 by NYCDOE

 

A lack of income and education is a recipe for flatline mobility. This is when putting food on the table and keeping the lights on outweighs attaining good grades in school and investing in equity. How can anyone move up in society if they do not have access to higher education and economic opportunities?

Silicon Harlem is attempting to solve this very issue from the ground up. Through education and community engagement can economic opportunities present themselves. Clayton Banks believes that by tapping into the youth’s curiosity, this issue can be resolved. He states,

Education is the great equalizer. But if you don’t have that access and exposure, and a lot of schools don’t, how can you pursue your potential?

He expands off this profound question by saying

Curiosity is a crazy thing, it could be obviously filled with nothing but greatness, but it can also be fed with an option that can make you go another way. So yes, education is the great equalizer. If you give those people the assets and I suppose it was at the core of what I do, then, we are putting people in the place where they’re supposed to be to reach their potential that will solve the systemic issues that we’ve been living with all of our lives.

Silicon Harlem is the first company to establish a “Community as a Platform” (CaaP), starting in Harlem. The key to CaaP is to ensure the community can be involved in the technology and innovation planning and deployment throughout the process.

There is a growing digital divide in society. It’s the “haves and have nots”. The “haves” are up to date with current tech trends, have access to current technology and are digitally literate. The “have nots” lack digital literacy, are not up to date with current technological trends, and have little to no access to fast, reliable internet.

Silicon Harlem has partnered with several companies, non-profits, and academia to bridge this divide. One partnership that stands out centers around a first of its kind project in Harlem.

The COSMOS Project is focused on the design, development, and deployment of a next-generation wireless infrastructure to support rising technologies and applications. Clayton proudly explained the significance of such a project in Harlem,

We wanted to put up a testbed in Harlem to test 5G, small cells and other ways to have connectivity to see how it’s going to impact our city. It’s done in Harlem. This would normally happen in Midtown or Downtown. It’s never happened in Upper Manhattan so I know we’re making the difference when we can get that kind of exposure. The very first 5G resource testbed in the country is in Harlem.

5G is the latest iteration of the wireless networks and is steadily entering the mainstream market. Silicon Harlem has essentially made Harlem into a technological hub through this partnership. Companies, such as IBM, are currently running trials of their technologies on this testbed. Researchers from esteemed colleges, such as Columbia University, Rutgers, NYU, City College, and the University of Arizona, are experimenting and developing on this testbed.

The part of this is that Silicon Harlem is able to provide access not only to the testbed for the local community but the education that comes with it, too. Students and teachers that are in the square-mile testbed are given access to an educational platform and complimentary toolkit. This combination will allow students and teachers to learn basic to advanced STEM concepts and run experiments locally or on the COSMOS testbed.

Clayton expanded on what this partnership means to the community,

We have the great opportunity of our lifetime to make an infrastructure that’s going to be embedded with all of this smart technology and be equitable to everyone.

At the end of the day, Silicon Harlem is building a platform where members of the local community can access educational and economic opportunities. When there are more opportunities, there is less stress on surviving and more focus on growing. And it all starts in the classroom.

We bring young people in and we show them how to code, how to build websites how to be aware of content and creative, and I tell you… we’ve had some kids in there and they all realized, ‘Wow! You mean there’s something else besides just banging, something else besides this hollering and running around?’ “

Silicon Harlem is doing something more than supporting curiosity and providing education. They are giving hope. Hope in the form of community engagement. Hope in the form of solving problems. Hope in the form of a chance to break molds.

And they have over 400 young people in college to show for it.

Why did it take a pandemic to get our carbon footprint right?

This is as quiet as it will ever be.

Metropolises defined by the energetic population have laid dormant for over a month now. Social distancing and cancellation of the non-essential workforce have silenced a roaring economy. The blaring horns of standstill traffic, the hustling and bustling of commuters, and 5 PM Happy Hour calls have stopped dead in their tracks.

It is said that silence is golden. But what is so golden about the world shutting down?

This is a golden opportunity to compare human activity versus inactivity. To directly observe how the actions of the world have a direct, proportional relationship with Earth as an ecosystem.

Since the start of 2020, the world has seen a reduction in carbon emissions. This is a direct effect of the Coronavirus shutting down sectors of the economy. Currently, the estimated reduction in carbon emissions is slated to be 5.5 percent of the total emissions from 2019.

According to a report by Carbon Brief,

“The coronavirus crisis could trigger the largest ever annual fall in CO2 emissions in 2020, more than during any previous economic crisis or period of war.”

 

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Two main contributors to the economy and global carbon emissions are the transportation and manufacturing industries. Executive orders from governments and global company shutdowns in the transportation industry are contributing to the largest reduction in carbon emissions in a single year.

Air travel in the US alone has decreased by 95 percent compared to this time last year. Through April of last year, 2.5 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints. This year, that number is 91,000 passengers.

Ben Schott/ Bloomberg Opinion

Car travel has also been reduced due to road closures, work from home policies, and travel restrictions in the United States. National Geographic reports that “U.S. passenger vehicle traffic was down by about 38 percent” in early April and that translates over to a “reduction in carbon emissions since cars tend to operate more efficiently when there’s less congestion.”  

Fewer cars on the road mean less traffic. Less traffic means fewer carbon emissions.

Co2 Emissions GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Cruise ships have been in a negative spotlight since the coronavirus pandemic started. The Diamond Princess, owned and operated by the Carnival Corporation, was the first cruise ship to have a major outbreak onboard. This event had a domino effect in the cruise industry, shutting down all cruise line operations.

Cruise ships have been notoriously known to discharge hazardous waste material into the oceans. Pacific Standard reports that “on an individual level, each passenger’s carbon footprint while cruising is roughly three times what it would be on land.”

As of April 20, all cruise ships have been docked until further notice. For now, cruise ship discharges and emissions have ceased.


Numbers That Matter

Even with all this inactivity, is it still enough to achieve climate action goals by 2030?

Unfortunately, no.

Back in 2019, The UN Environment Programme released a global progress report on climate action. They simplified this report down to 4=four numbers: 1.5, 25, 56, and 7.6.

1.5°C – Represents the limit of global temperature increase where the planet can avoid devastating impacts associated with global warming.

25 gigatons – is the amount that CO2 emissions need to drop to by 2030 to limit a global temperature rise above 1.5°C.

56 gigatons – CO2 emissions are currently on track to reach 56 gigatons by 2030. This represents twice the limit of what CO2 emissions should be.

7.6% – This number represents the annual percentage reduction of emissions every year between 2020 and 2030. Reducing at this rate with limit global warming to the 1.5°C threshold.

What is the current state of progress on hitting these climate action goals in the US?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

After decreasing by 2.7% in 2019, EIA forecasts that energy-related CO2 emissions will decrease by 7.5% in 2020 as the result of the slowing economy and restrictions on business and travel activity related to COVID-19. In 2021, EIA forecasts that energy-related CO2 emissions will increase by 3.6%. Energy-related CO2 emissions are sensitive to changes in weather, economic growth, energy prices, and fuel mix.

Essentially, the Coronavirus is helping the US reduce its carbon footprint, but the following year it’s set to spike up again. It took a pandemic for the US to meet climate action guidelines, but what will happen once this is over?

The energy-related infrastructures will still be the same and revving on all cylinders once this pandemic subsides. New solutions to the current energy infrastructure need to become widespread, fast.


Immediate Solutions post Coronavirus

Transportation:

Depending on the distance, biking to work can be a pleasurable experience and reduce your work commute carbon footprint to zero.

If you’re looking to add a challenge to your fitness level, a running commute to work also works the same…and you’ll be in great shape. Just remember to shower.

Should those two options feel extreme, try to take public transportation as much as possible. Having a single 50-passenger bus engine revving instead of tens of car engines running is always a win.

Economical:

Buying products from your local market as much as possible reduces the travel distance from where the product is being shipped from. Reducing the distance from where a product is shipped from inevitably reduces the carbon footprint of that product.

One organization that supports this is Just Food. They are a non-profit organization in New York City that advocates for and increases access to healthy, locally-grown food; especially in underserved NYC neighborhoods.

 

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Political:

On a broader scale, politicians can impact the direction of energy policy in their communities.

From local and state to federal, public servants vote on energy bills that shape our countries carbon footprint. Us supporting politicians with a net-zero carbon emission agenda is the most impactful way to support climate action.

Get out there and VOTE!

Energy:

On an individual level, energy subscribers should consider switching energy suppliers to ones that offer an environmentally friendly option like wind, solar, or hydropower.

ConEdison has a simple walkthrough on how to do so: (Link)

And most importantly, RECYCLE your plastic!

Happy Earth Day, y’all!

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

How Citius Mag founder Chris Chavez built an online running community

If people ran 20 minutes a day, the world would be a better place. Feeling blood cells pump through the body while carrying oxygen – that is life.  Panting for breath and feeling breathless in search of new air – that is life. Contracting and expanding the muscles of one’s body with each stride – that is life. That is running culture.

Within running culture a certain mindset exists. There’s an understanding that there are trials and tribulations, pain and agony,  doubt and injury, all for the reward of completing an incredible race. In other words, “putting in that work!”

Along with the culture, comes prominent names that every household knows and loves. There’s Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Steve Prefontaine, Eliud Kipchoge… they’re at the pinnacle of our culture. They’re legends on and off the track.

For the common folk, there are everyday legends within communities that personify the same feeling. One individual, in particular, is Chris Chavez, the founder of Citius Mag., and a writer and runner born and raised in Queens, NY.

 

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The Writer

Chris Chavez had dreams that every New York City baseball-loving kid had while growing up in the 90s and 2000s. He dreamed of playing for New York City’s team: the Yankees.  He grew up playing baseball and idolized Yankees legend, Derek Jeter. He wanted to be the heir to the throne.

Unfortunately, the crown does not fit all.

His dream came to a screeching halt when he was cut from the baseball team during his freshman year tryout in high school. He didn’t have that athletic development during crucial summer years from fifth to eighth grade.

During those summers, he attended REACH, a summer program that was geared more towards classwork and philosophy as opposed to sports.   By the time he got to high school, he found himself behind everyone else and didn’t make the baseball team. He thought, what’s one way to stay close to the sport? Sportswriting and media was the answer.


Chris decided to start writing for the school newspaper and worked his way up the ranks. He started as a writer, then a sports editor and eventually found himself as editor-in-chief by his junior year. His goal was clear: “I want to be a professional sportswriter someday.”

In addition to writing for the school newspaper, he was researching and writing for other websites. He wrote for NYHoops covering high school basketball. As a sophomore, he wrote for Bleacher Report. By the time Chris enrolled in college, he had quite the resume as a sports journalist.

The next stop on his journalism journey took Chris to Milwaukee, where he enrolled at Marquette University. Here, he pursued a degree in journalism and became a sportswriter for the Marquette Wire.

During his freshman year, he covered any and all Golden Eagle sports. By his sophomore year, he was the men’s basketball beat writer (shout out to D-Wade and Jimmy Butler). He had a firm foothold in the sportswriting world, however, his true passion wasn’t realized yet.

At some point in 2012, he stayed in on a Friday night and didn’t go out with his friends. He came across a live stream link on Twitter to a FloTrack meet that was broadcast out in California. He watched it and saw all these people running super fast,

“I had just started running in college to avoid the Freshman 15. I knew that I could run a 20-minute 5K, but to see someone running a 13-minute 5K was wild to me. It opened my eyes that there’s more to the Olympics and track than just watching Usain Bolt run for 10 or 20 seconds.”


He wanted to know more about these other athletes and these other people in the sport. So he went back, watched old races, and read everything he could about the sport so that when he watched the London 2012 Olympics he knew more than household names.

That lit this little fire of following the sport and becoming a fan of it. From there, he volunteered at a track meet for FloTrack that summer at New York City’s Icahn Stadium, where all professional athletes competed.

Unfazed by the star power these athletes carried, Chris conducted interview after interview. FloTrack quickly realized Chris’ passion and promptly offered him a chance to cover more races. His repeated success at meets gave way to more opportunities to cover track meets across the country.

From Florida to California to the European circuit, Chris started to build up his experience covering track and field. Even though he was still a college student with a full course load, he managed his time wisely. In his own words, he described his experience as such,

“I sacrificed the college weekends to go and be able to watch people run in circles and ask them a couple of questions afterward, and it was really putting into practice what I was studying.”

 

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His hard work eventually paid off when he landed an internship with ESPN covering major sports. His gig with a notable sports media outlet bolstered his resume and gave his writing a spotlight on the national scene.

After graduating from Marquette University, Chavez took a writing position at Sports Illustrated in May of 2015. His goal was to find a way to get to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

For a year, Chris worked relentlessly, pushing out robust content. Sports Illustrated returned the favor to Chris by sending him on assignment to the 2016 Olympic Games.

 

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In the fall and the Summer Olympic Games behind him, Chris needed to recalibrate himself and work towards a new career goal. With the next games being four years away, he was looking to find a way to fill the gap. Since he worked for Sports Illustrated, he was able to indulge in other sports projects, but the passion for running still remained.

To keep his fire fueled, Chris teamed up with a couple of friends in the running world and launched Citius Mag in February 2017.

Citius Mag is an outlet by runners for runners where contributors give commentary, analysis, and humor in the world of running. Featuring takes from elite level athletes to your everyday runner, Citius Mag provides a one-stop-shop for all your running content.

 

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Chris and his partners at Citus Mag evolved their written content into snackable audio segments through their podcast shows. One of their more popular podcasts, Runners of NYC, is hosted by Chris Chavez and Brooklyn Track Club captain Leigh Anne Sharek, where they share untold stories behind luminaries and legends of New York City’s running culture.

 

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The Runner

When a young athlete is cut from their school team, a variety of factors come into play as to why. Some are apparent, some not so much. When Chris Chavez was cut from the baseball team in his freshman year of high school, it was a blessing in disguise.

Chris joined the track and field team as a sprinter and lived between the 200-meter and 400-meter distance. His personal bests did not warrant any college offers, but it did ignite the spark that would lead him towards his passion for running.

 

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Once in college, to avoid the notorious “freshman 15”, Chris took it upon himself to run a few 5Ks for charity. He built up his level of fitness and in return, his confidence in running long distances grew.

His gaze for running eventually fell upon the marathon distance. His goal was to run the New York City Marathon. To increase his running economy, Chris needed to acclimate himself to longer distance runs. He started training for, and running half-marathons as a build-up towards running the full thing.

In 2013, Chris ran and completed the Chicago Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Major courses. Usually, one marathon is enough for people, but not if the running bug bites. And for Chris, it bit hard.

Not only did Chris want to run the remaining five World Marathon Major courses, but he also wanted to break the three-hour barrier while doing so. At this point, his competitive juices were flowing and he wanted to be as accomplished of a runner as he could be. What else could be expected of someone who grew up hustling in NYC?

Being a native New Yorker, Chris is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of running in NYC. He describes his experience as such,

“It’s gritty. I think everyone acknowledges that there are challenges to running every day in New York City, but somehow we find a way to make it work. Whether it’s not having soft surface all the time or the nicest trails, or even just like the time to do it, people still find a way to cram it in. Whether it’s after work or really early in the morning, or taking a drive up somewhere to get on a trail or even Central Park.”

 

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Running in New York City is the gift that keeps on giving. People are out here constantly getting their steps in. There’s no other city where the competitiveness some runners had in high school and college can continue on. And for some, that discovery of a love for running comes in their late 20s or early 30s. It’s really a gift that this city has for the community.

By March 2019, Chris had completed his sixth World Marathon Major course as his strides carried him to the finish line of the Tokyo Marathon. He has lowered his marathon personal best down to 3:06 with his recent completion of the Berlin Marathon.

 

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Chris is currently training for the Chicago Marathon this fall. Life comes full circle as he is preparing to break the 3-hour barrier on the course where he started his marathon journey.

Months of training all for a single moment. It doesn’t get any better than that.



Runners in Quarantine

In the age of COVID-19, people have been forced indoors, literally and figuratively trapping them in a box. For creatives, these times are tough. We here at Kulture Hub decided to reach out to our community for advice on staying productive and creative.

I asked Chris how he’s dealing with isolation and he seems to be doing pretty well. He is continuing his training program and grinding out ideas and content. He reasoned with me saying,

“People want a little bit of an escape from the news. It’s great to stay informed and keep up with everything that’s happening. But at the same time, it’s like, what else can you think about there are no sports on. You can watch Netflix for only so long so it’s finding a way to entertain people.”

He further detailed his plans for writing about running.

“It’s definitely a challenge, but you have to get creative and there are many different ways, whether it’s podcasts, interviewing people about how they’re coping,  or revisiting some things in the past. There’s a lot of history within the sport of track and field.”

 

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Put some respect on Ani Sanyal’s name, the trailblazer behind Green Room Creative

It was a bright Monday afternoon. Our photographer and I had just gotten off the R train at the Cortlandt Street stop.

We made our way through the lush ambiance of Westfield Mall and headed towards an office where Ani Sanyal creates his own world.

There was playful banter along the way where we discussed how NYC would look if there was ever to be a zombie apocalypse (New Jersey might be the key, but that’s a story for another time).

We made our way up to the 20th floor where Ani’s office is located. He greeted us as we stepped off the elevator and settled us in a room where I would interview him.

The view of the Hudson River during sunset was warming. He said he would return shortly and stepped out.

What I saw next is an image that I will never forget.

Ani Sanyal Kolkata
Photo Cred: @vargas.visuals

Since it was President’s Day (shout out to Obama), his entire office was empty. I peeked out of the interview room to see Ani diligently working on his laptop. Every chair in the office was empty. Ani’s was not.

His composed demeanor and body language suggested a down-to-earth vibe. Yet, his thoughts and vision seemed to be in the heavens.

Returning to the interview room with a fresh mind, Ani dapped it up and we began shooting the shit.

Ani Sanyal is a first-generation Indian-American born and raised in Boston, MA.  His roots trace back to Kolkata, India, the cultural capital of Eastern India.

Although NYC is where he hustles, these three places played a pivotal role throughout his life. They set a robust foundation.

For brown folks, learning and developing in a post 9/11 world was certainly interesting. At the time, there was a certain anxiety in the air. Ani’s experience was no different. He recalls one memory,

“You grow up in a place like Boston post 9/11 and I remember somebody called me a terrorist because I hit a three in his face and I was like, ‘sometimes it be like that.'”

He dived in further and explained how experiences like this shaped his childhood. As a brown kid growing up, he felt unsafe but mostly he would worry about his parents.

Even though Ani had his friends around him, it was still difficult…

“As a brown kid, you feel unsafe… I think that sense of insecurity or that sense of hopelessness has always been something that I’ve dealt with. That lack of safety net or just knowing that, ultimately, it’s up to us.”

From a young age, Ani recognized the danger of not being “well-capitalized,” “creating influence,” or having the ability to remove yourself from whack situations.

“It’s dangerous. You get caught up. That’s why I really took to building a business as a force for breaking those walls down.”

For us, there aren’t many channels for expression. For him, it was hip hop music and learning how to turn music into a business.

Music was his first love. His first business. His first hustle. During his college years at NYU, he was managing different artists and running digital campaigns for them.

From organizing Wiz Khalifa’s first show in NYC to scoring a Bollywood film, Ani’s reach in the music industry was broad. When it came to showcasing his own music, he was just as diligent.

Ani’s ability to create commerce out of art took him around the world at a young age. Between the ages of 22 and 25, Ani toured internationally.

The first leg of his tour started in Japan, where he made a splash in the Tokyo hip-hop scene. This was the first instance where he realized whatever crazy vision he had, it was possible to achieve.

All seemed well up until this point. However, life is filled with ups-and-downs.

During the next phase of his international tour, Ani had plans to live and tour in India. As a precaution before traveling, he had a routine check-up with his doctor. What he learned next would change his life forever.

Kolkata
Photo Cred @vargas.visuals

At the age of 25, he was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure. He had a decision to make: pursue his passion or take care of his health.

In the face of adversity, he YOLO’d it and chose to pursue his passion. He went on tour in India with only 20 percent of his kidney function remaining despite strong concerns from his doctor and family.

He learned a valuable lesson from this experience that he summed up as such,

“You go through something like that and you’ll never feel fear again. You’ll never be afraid of something again because you literally looked death in the face.”

Ani Sanyal Kolkata Chai
Photo Cred: @vargas.visuals

Following this tour, he received a kidney transplant from his father. There was a long recovery period where he reflected on all the lessons he learned through his ventures. Ultimately, he decided to pivot his business toward marketing and advertising.

Music was truly his passion, but turning ideas into businesses, scaling and growing with others was his calling. The goals he set were built for the long game, for the marathon lifestyle.

Ani put his lessons into action by creating Green Room Creative, a digital growth agency focused on scaling young companies.

Along with his brother Ayan, Ani took his gains from his music venture and doubled up into the media and marketing industry. The goal was to capitalize on the exponential growth of social media.

Using efficient strategy, thumb-stopping creative, and media acquisition Green Room Creative transformed how brands engage with their users. His thesis can be summed up with the following,

“Social media to me is serious because every micro-interaction is a chance for you to impact someone you know positively or negatively depending on what kind of attitude you have.”

 

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Staying true to the marathon lifestyle, Ani and his team took the gains from Green Room Creative and flipped it into an industry where there is greater equity: real estate.

Ani and Ayan, along with other members of their team formed Sanyal Capital Group, a real estate investment group in the NYC Metro region.

Their portfolio consists of a number of multifamily homes where they buy, flip, or hold depending on their strategy.

Capital gains were being made; life was good.

With a firm stake in real estate, Ani created what the majority of immigrant children strive for — generational wealth.

 

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Building something from nothing is a story as old as time. To go from popped to poppin’ is more suited in Ani’s story. He describes his journey thus far as,

“It wasn’t cool to be brown as a kid. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t a thing. Now we’re here where you hear brown excellence and you hear people really proud of it. That’s dope.”

He further explained how experiences from his past molded his motivation.

“To me, it wasn’t like that growing up. It was curry this and curry that. It was all those things, and I took those and was like, bet. I’m gonna flip it. And now, we’re in that time where I get to flip it and really put my foot in the game as a cultural creator and business person.”

 

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Ani’s symbol of brown excellence can be found on the corner of East 3rd Street and Avenue B in the LES. Kolkata Chai Co. is NYC’s first South Asian chai café. But it is so much more than that. In his own words, he said,

“It’s a way to tell our story, but also a way to tap into everybody’s immigrant story. Everybody feels that connection, and that’s been my approach to it. It’s like you take all the pain and all of the things that you grew up with as a kid and you figure out how do you distill those into ways to change the path for the people forward.”

He expanded further into what the café symbolizes.

“We’re the only South Asian Chai café in New York City. And now, that is becoming a connector. That drink is a connector for people across cultures.”

Despite a number of setbacks, including a failed inspection and barely making payroll, Ani  “kept his team motivated during a drought” and opened the cafe at the end of 2019.

Ani Sanyal Kolkata Chai Co
Photo Cred: @vargas.visuals

We had covered the full spectrum of Ani’s hustles during this interview. Going from the past to the present. But what was in store for his future?

I started to wrap up our interview, and asked him, “what’s next?” He replied,

“There’s co-working, there’s digital media, there’s art, there’s culture, there’s food.  It’s a lot of overlapping elements in the same space of creative and commerce. And my goal is to find a thread that unites all of those things to build one massive ecosystem.”

They say if you can make it in NYC, you can make it anywhere. Ani believes that this applies to his ecosystem. If he can solidify his concept in the world’s grittiest city, then he can take it anywhere. He simplified his hustle as such,

“If I’m up or down you’ll never know, because I approach it the same way. Every day is like my rookie year.”

Keep ten toes down and stay grounded in your work.

The marathon continues…